Properly shaken up - really hurt (intentionally) whilst shopping

[Vinosaurus]

I was in Tesco about an hour ago - it was pretty busy but people all had masks on and were trying their best in the main to keep their distance ... as was I.

I don't really know what happened exactly, or why he did it, but I was picking up some fromage frais - nobody particularly close by - and I suddenly got shoved from behind. Turned my head to be presented with a alpha male type who lifted his arm (trying to explain that this was very much intentional and meant to hurt) and elbowed me in the back of the ribs with some real force. It was enough to wind me and cause me some real pain.

He walked off pretty briskly but squared up to me (from a distance) when I shouted after him "what the hell do do you think you're doing? You're an idiot!" (not my finest moment and probably very unwise but I was so shocked), although I think he thought better of it when he realised how many people were around. I was walking away by then, trying to calm myself down (had horrid heart palpitations - probably due to the adrenaline!) and just get away from the situation.

A couple of women (separately) caught up to me to see if I was ok/say they'd seen what happened/congratulate me on pulling him up on it - which was very kind, but I am still super tearful and shaken up. I'm a 42 yr old woman, FFS, really need to get a grip, have a glass of wine and forget about it.

I literally can't believe this (as in I'm so shocked, not troll hunting).

What an absolute crazy horrible misogynistic bastard. Who hits someone in a supermarket?? What type of man hits a woman???

I am so so sorry OP. You're not overreacting I'd be so upset and it would make me afraid to go out :(

Hugs to you

Thats awful op, report it and perhaps the supermarket have security footage and maybe catch the thug.

Do you have any injuries or bruises?

That’s awful OP. The police will investigate and if the CCTV is good they’ll probably do a public appeal to find him, unless he’s known to them already in which case they’ll arrest him. It’s an unprovoked ABH in a public place. They’ll take it seriously.

You have been physically assaulted, go to the police

Oh god OP, that’s horrible.

Well done for reporting it.

I'd like to imagine that the next time he tries something like this, a big, burly husband or general do-gooder will witness it from nearby, chase him down, and knock the daylights out of him (and then hand him over to the police). Scum.

TheSockMonster I also wonder why. I suppose it’s party some sort of personality disorder / low impulse control - but then they have enough control not to let loose on someone bigger and stronger.

On the psychopath scale then.

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you - I'd have been very frightened, and angry afterwards. Report it to the police and also to the shop, as the shop will definitely have CCTV and you should ask them to make sure they don't record over it. You can then tell the police that the shop will have it on film.

Well done for reporting him. I was assaulted in a busy public place last year. It's so shocking that people do tend to look for reasons it happened and question their perception of it. It left me shaken for a long while.

Sorry this happened to you, op

Op take photographs of any injuries, also if you get a bruise.

The great thing is that there will be cctv, he may have paid by card and driven so there's numerous lines of enquiry.

If he's assaulted you so easily he has probably done it before/ will do it again so thanks for reporting it

Keep an eye out for any bruises, and photograph them.

He might be known to the police. I hope they catch the nasty piece of work. What is wrong with people?!

You've been assaulted.

Why do you think you should just get over it?

Report to police and describe the man. Even if there wasn't cctv in the bit you were on they would have caught him coming in and out and maybe even what car he came in if he drove.

No one has the right to just walk up and assault someone in public.

And well done for calling him out. Most bullies don't expect that and often flee because they don't know what to do when confronted.

How utterly horrible for you. Please contact the police - the store will have CCTV. He sounds awful and dangerous.

Poor you

I did criminal law years ago. What he did was serious op. Unprovoked violent attack on an innocent woman.

Well done for reporting him @Vinosaurus

good for you op hope they catch him

Well done OP, that took courage, but you’ve totally done the right thing.

As a fellow woman, thank you for reporting this man op and hopefully stopping it happening again. 💐

Well done for reporting him. I really hope they have some good cctv images of him. You've reported it quite quickly so hopefully the Tesco security team can look at their recording right away. He's a nasty bully and needs to be held to account. You've been very brave.

Bloody hell op I hope you are ok! I also hope they get him! What an idiot!

Well done for reporting him It sounds like he must be ill, but people need protection from this kind of thing :(

It wasn't Tesco's Gloucester by chance? Had something similar where he shoulder barged me hard, I was with my toddler and shocked so did nothing about it.
Well done for reporting. I hope you're feeling better